Fountain-washer for clothes-boilers



A. H. SCHWALLER.

FOUNTAIN WASHER FOR CLOTHES BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 9. 1920.

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UNETED STATES PATENT QFFHQE.

FOUNTAIN-WASHER FOR CLOTHES-BOILERS.

Application filed. February 9, 1920.

T 0 (425 who-m it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED il. SoHwALLnR, a citizen of the Swiss Republic, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of lVisconsin have in vented certain new and useful Improve ments in Fountain-Vashers for Clothes- Boilers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in appliances for use in wash boilers.

Specifically this invention relates to an appliance to be placed within a wash boiler whereby the cleansing action of the boiling water will be increased owing to an increase in the circulatory action of the water through the clothes. The appliance also includes an arrangement for holding the clothes against excessive movement within the wash boiler under excessive boiling action of the water so as to thus obtain a maximum circulation of water with slight movement of the clothes.

The invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed and shown in the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view, partly in section, of a fountain washer constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of one end portion of the washer.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a valve which might be associated with the apertures in the base portion of the washer.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen that this improved washer consists essentially of three main parts, a base portion 1 including the hollow water column 2, an upper portion or head 3 and a clothes retaining or guard plate 4. The complete appliance is seated on the bottom of a wash boiler B and the clothes to be washed are between the base portion 1 and the plate 4.

Said base portion preferably is formed from a plate having a peripheral depending flange 5 which rests on the bottom of said boiler B, the plate having a plurality of se- Speeification of Letters Patent.

.to slip over the upper open Patented itiay 31, 1924.

Serial No. 357,276.

ries of openings 6 through which water and steam can readily circulate. The hollow column 2 is merged into said plate forming the base portion 1 and extends upwardly in the center of the boiler 13, terminating adjacent the top thereof.

The under side of the base 1 is provided witlra plurality of circulating ribs 16 and 7 which are so arranged as to cause the water to be dlrected toward the center of the base beneath the column 2 so that it may readily rise therethrough. As shown in Fig. 2, the ribs 16 are substantially Usl1aped, while the ribs 7 are more nearly straight and overlap the corresponding ends of the other ribs. As is noted from F 1, the ribs l6 and 7, although they depend from the plate portion of the base 1, have their lower edges spaced above the plane of the bottom or seating edge of the flange 5.

The head 3 consists of an elongated member having a perforated bottom or trough portion 8 and an imperforate hood 9. Fig. 3 indicates the manner in which the outer horizontal edges of the hood 9 overhang the sides of the trough portion so as to direct the water and steam flowing from the perforations therein downwardly.

The central portion of the head 3 is provided with an attaching sleeve 10 adapted end of the column 2 so that water and steam from the latter will directly enter said head. A bayonet slot joint 11 provides a readily detachable connection between the sleeve 10 and the column 2.

The retaining plate 4, hereinbefore referred to, is carried by the head 3 by means of depending legs 12. This plate is also pro vided with a plurality of apertures 13, and its periphery, as well as the opening therein receiving the sleeve 10, is reinforced by a bead 14.

If desirable the openings 6, or some of them, in the base 1 may be provided with flap valves 15 such as illustrated in Fig. 4. Such valves will prevent the water which enters the base from leaving it except by way of the column 2.

In operation the base portion of the appliance is first placed in a wash boiler B, after which a sufiicient quantity of clothing is placed therein and packed around the central column 2. Finally the head 3 and retaining plate 4 are secured on the upper end of the column and the clothes are then obviously retained between the base 1 and the plate l. As the water which has been i placed in the boiler begins to heat up and boil, that portion which is in the base 1 will tend to rise, and as the path of least resistance is through the column 2, most of it will follow this course and will thereafter be expelled through the openings in the head This water will begin to circulate downwardlv through the clothes, and thus as the heat or the water increases, a continuous and positive circulation will be set up and maintained. The water will not only be caused to thoroughly circulate, but will be eilectively agitated within the base 1 by reason of the circulating ribs 16 and 7. Owing to this efficient circulation of the water throughout the boiler, the clothing' therein will be cleaned much more quickly and effectively than if the appliance was not used. As a result, less heat is required for the same amount of washing, and less subsequent work is necessary in View of the more thorough cleansing.

I claim:

A fountain attachment for clothes boilers comprising'a base portion adapted to seat on the bottom of the boiler and to form therewith an inclosed space, a hollow column extending upwardly from the center of said base portion and in communication therewith, the upper surface of said base portion and the side of said column forming a con tinuously curved surface, an elongated hollow head detachably mounted on the upper end of said column and in communication therewith, the upper side of said head being in cross section substantially in the shape of an inverted V, and the lower side of said head being semi-cylindrical, the upper wall of said base portion and the lower side of the head being perforated to permit a continuous circulation of water therethrough.

Inv testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, and State of WVisconsin.

V ALFRED H. SCH'WALLER. 

